The city now has enough property to locate a new arena in west Savannah, where it was originally expected to be built.

Marty Johnston, the city’s director of special projects, informed members of the city council of the discovery while they took a bus tour to the four locations being considered for the facility on Wednesday afternoon.

Johnston said that staff found out about two weeks ago that the property the city owns north of Gwinnett Street along the Springfield Canal can accommodate an arena the size of a much-praised 11,500-seat facility in Gwinnett County. Up until then, city staff had said they would need to acquire more property, which would have likely required extensive environmental mitigation.

Since 2006, the city has spent about $1.6 million purchasing property west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Interstate 16 for the arena, with the intention of fostering economic development in area. Despite the investment, the city recently sought proposals from firms to conduct a location study that would examine three other locations.

The interest in other sites drew criticism from the Carver Heights and Cloverdale neighborhood association presidents, who said residents supported that last sales-tax referendum largely because of the city’s plan to locate the arena nearby.

Johnston said that the city has received responses for the location study, but that they have not been presented to council yet.

The news that the Westside site could accommodate the facility boosted support among council members for locating the arena there and led some to question the need for a location study.

“I’d rather select one we already own,” said Alderman Tony Thomas.

Aldermen John Hall, Mary Ellen Sprague, Carolyn Bell and Estella Shabazz also took the tour.

The three other locations being considered include the existing Civic Center site, Savannah River Landing property along President Street, and a site on the city’s northwest side between the Georgia Ports’ Ocean Terminal and the old Georgia Power plan on River Street.

Assistant City Manager Peter Shonka said the city does not own the property at the Savannah River Landing or northwest locations. In addition, both sites would have to contend with traffic issues, while the west Savannah location would have interstate accessibility.

One downside to locating the new arena on the existing Civic Center site is that the demolition and construction there would mean two years without revenue from the facility, Shonka said.

All of the locations would likely need garages to accommodate parking, he said.

If the council did end up selecting the west Savannah location, they would still have to figure out what to do with the existing Civic Center.

“I don’t think you can decide one without the other,” Johnston said.

Possibilities include adapting it for other uses or demolishing it and opening the property up for redevelopment.

Johnston said one benefit of building the new arena where the Civic Center is currently located is that operational costs would not have to be increased as much. Since the adjoining Johnny Mercer Theater would not be demolished with the Civic Center, staff there could man both facilities, she said.

The question of location comes as the city is trying to get $120 million in funding for the arena added to the next sales-tax referendum being planned for November. The city has $22 million in sales-tax funds currently budgeted for the project.